GEN.  BEAUREGARD'S 

OFFICIAL  REPORT 

OF  TIIK 

"BATTLE  OF  MANASSAS." 


Headquarters  First  Corps  Army  of  the  Potomac,  \ 
Manassas,  Aug.  26,  1861.      J 

General —  *  **  *  *  The  War  Department  hav- 
ing been  informed  by  me,  by  telegraph  on  the  17th  of 
July,  of  the  movement  of  General  McDowell,  General 
Johnston  was  immediately  ordered  to  form  a  junction  of 
his  army  corps  with  mine,  should  the  movement,  in  his 
judgment,  be  deemed  advisable.  General  Holmes  was 
also  directed  to  push  forward  with  two  regiments,  a  bat- 
tery and  one  company  of  cavalry. 

In  view  of  these  propositions,  approaching  reinforce- 
ments modifying  my  plan  of  operations  so  far  as  to  deter- 
mine on  attacking  the  enemy  at  Centreville  as  soon  as  1 
should  hear  of  the  near  approach  of  the  two  reinforcing 
columns,  I  sent  one  of  my  aids,  Colonel  Chrisholm,  of 
South  Carolina,  to  meet  and  communicate  my  plans  to 
General  Johnston,  and  my  wish  that  one  portion  of  his 
force  should  march  by  the  way  of  Aldie,  and  take  the  ene- 
my on  his  right  flank  and  in  the  rear  at  Centreville.  Dif- 
ficulties, however,  of  an  insuperable  character  in  con- 
nection with  means  of  transportation,  and  the  marching 
condition  of  his  troops,  made  this  impracticable,  and  it 
was  determined  our  Forces  should  be  united  within  the 
lines  of  Bull  Run,  and  thence  advance  to  the  attack  of 
the  enemy. 

General  Johnston  arrived  hereabout  noon  on  the  20th 
July,  and  being  my  senior  in  rank,  he  necessarily  as- 
sumed command  of  all  force  of  the  Confederate   States, 


^^Jconcentrating  at  this  point.  Made  acquainted  with 
^Hplan  of  operations  ami  dispositions  to  inert  the  ene- 
Sy,  he  pivc  them  his  entire  approval,  and  generously, 
flgfacted  their  execution  under  my  command, 
^^■consequence  of  the  untoward  detention,  however,  iA' 
^BK  live  thousand  (5,000)  of  General  Johnston's  army 
^wps,  resulting  from  the  inadequate  and  imperfect  means 
f  transportation  lor  so  many  troops,  at  the  disposition 
of  the  Manassas  (Jap  Railroad,  it  became  necessary,  on 
the  morning  of  the  21st,  before  daylight,  to  modify  the 
plan  aecepted  to  suit  the  contingency  of  an  immediate 
attack  on  our  lines  by  the  main  force  of  the  enemy,  then 
plainly  at  hand. 

The  enemy's  forces,  reported  by  their  best  informed 
journals,  to  be  55,000  strong,  I  had  learned  from  reliable 
sources,  on  the  night  of  the  20th,  were  being  concentrated 
in  and  around  Centreville,  and  along  the  Warrenton  turn- 
pike road,  to  Bull  run,  near  which  our  respective  pickets 
were  in  immediate  proximity.  This  fact,  with  the  con- 
viction that,  after  his  signal  discomfiture  on  the  18th  of 
July,  before  Blackburn's  Ford — the  centre  of  my  lines — 
he  would  not  renew  the  attack  in  that  quarter,  induced 
me  at  once  to  look  for  an  attempt  on  my  left  flank,  rest- 
ing on  the  Stone  Bridge,  which  was  but  weakly  guarded 
by  men,  as  well  as  but  slightly  provided  with  artificial 
defensive  appliances  and  artillery. 

In  view  of  these  palpable  military  conditions,  by  half- 
past  four  A.  M.,  on  the  21st  July,  I  had  prepared  and 
dispatched  orders,  directing  the  whole  of  the  Confederate 
forces  within  the  linesof  Bull  run,  including  the  brigades 
and  regiments  of  Gen.  Johnston,  which  had  arrived  at 
that  time,  to  beheld  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's 
notice. 

At  that  hour  the  following  was  the  disposition  of  our 
forces : — 

Ewell's  brigade,  constituted  on  the  18th  of  July,  re- 
mained in  position  at  Union  Mills  Ford,  his  left  extending 
along  Bull  run,  in  the  direction  of  McLean's  Ford,  and 
supported  by  Holmes'  brigade,  Second  Tennessee  and 
First  Arkansas  regiments  a  short  distance  to  the  rear — 
that  is,  at  and  near  Camp  Wigfall. 

D.  R.Jones'  brigade,  from  Ewell's  left,  in  front  of  Mc- 
Lean's Ford  and  along  the  stream  to  Longstreet's  position. 
It  was  unchanged  in  organization,  and  was  supported  by 
Early's  brigade,  also  unchanged,  placed  behind  a  thicket 
of  young  pines,  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  McLean's 
Ford. 


Longstreet's  brigade  held  its  former  ground  at 
hum's  Ford,  from  Jones'  Left  to  Bonham's  right,  atfl 

(•hell's  Ford,  and  was  supported  by  Jackson's  hriJ^H 
consisting  of  Colonels  .James  L.  Preston's  Fourth,  i^H 
por's  Fifth,  Alien's  Second,  the  Twenty-seventh.  LieuJ^H 
ant  Colonel  Eeholl's,  and  the  Thirty-third.  Cumn^| 
Virginia  regiments,  2,611  strung,  which  were  posi 
hind  the  skirting  of  pines  to  the  rear  of  Blackburn's 
MitchelFs  Ford,  and  in  the  rear  of  this  support  was  al 
Barksdale's  Thirteenth  regiment  Mississippi  Volunteers, 
which  had  Lately  arrived  from  Lynchburg. 

Along  the  edge  of  a  pine  thicket,  in  rear  of  and  equal 
distance  from  McLean's  and  Blackburn's  Fords,  ready  to 
support  either  position,  I  had  also  placed  all  ofBee's  and 
Bartow's  brigades  that  had  arrived — namely,  two  com- 
panies of  the  Eleventh  Mississippi,  Lieut.  Col.  Liddell; 
the  Second  Mississippi,  Col  Faulkner,  and  the  Alabama, 
with  the  Seventh  and  Eighth  Georgia  regiments,  (Colonels 
Gartrell,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gardner,)  in  all  2,732 
bayonets. 

Bonham's  brigade,  as  before  held  Mitchell's  Ford,  its 
right  near  Longstreet's  left,  its  left  extending  in  the 
direction  of  Cocke's  right.  It  was  organized  as  at  the 
end  of  the  18th  of  July,  with  Jackson's  brigade,  as  before 
said,  as  a  support. 

Cocke's  brigade,  increased  by  seven  companies  of  the 
Eighth,  Hunton's ;  three  companies  of  the  Forty-ninth, 
Smith's  Virginia  regiments  :  two  companies  of  cavalry, 
and  a  battery  under  Rogers  of  four  six-poundei  -.  occupied 
the  line  in  front  and  rear  of  Bull  run,  extending  from  the 
direction  of  Bonham's  left,  and  guarding  Island,  Ball's 
and  Lewis'  Fords,  to  the  right  of  Evans'  demi-brigade, 
near  the  Stone  Bridge,  also  under  General  Cocke'scom- 
mand. 

The  latter  held  the  Stone  Bridge,  and  its  left  covered  a. 
farm  ford  about  one  mile  above  the  bridge. 

Stuart's  cavalry,  some  three  hundred  men,  of  the  army 
of  the  Shenandoah,  guarded  the  level  ground,  extending  in 
rear  from  Bonham's  left  to  Cocke's  right. 

Two  companies  of  Radford's  cavalry  were  held  in  re- 
serve a  short  distance  in  rear  of  Mitchell's  Ford,  his  left 
extending  in  the  direction  of  Stuart's  right. 

Colonel  Pendleton's  reserve  battery  of  eight  pieces  was 
temporarily  placed  in  rear  of  Bonham's  extreme  left, 

Major  Walton's  reserve  battery  of  five  guns  was  in 
position  on  McLean's  farm,  in  a  piece  of  woods  in  rear 
of  Bee's  right. 


unpton's  legion  of  six  companies  of  infantry,  six 
^Bi'c<!  strong,  having  arrived  that  morning  by  the  cars 
from  Richmond,  was  subsequently,  as  soon  as  it  arrived, 

^Kered  forward  to  a  position  in  immediate  vicinity  of 
^■LLewi^  House,  as  a  support  for  any  troops  engaged  in 

Quarter. 
^^he  effective  force  of  all   arms  of  the  army  of  the  Po- 
■mnac  on  that  eventful  morning,  including  the  garrison 
of  Camp  Pickens,  did  not  exceed 21,833  men  and  20  guns. 

The  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  ready  for  action  on  tin1 
field,  maybe  set  at  0,000  men  and  20  guns.  [That  is, 
when  the  battle  begun,  Smith's  brigade  and  Fisher's 
North  Carolina  came  up  later,  and  made  total  of  army  of 
Shenandoah  engaged  of  all  arms,  8,334.  Hill's  Virginia 
regiment.  550,  also  arrived,  but  was  posted  as  reserve  to 
right  flank. j 

The  brigade  of  General  Holmes  mustered  about  1,265 
bayonets,  six  guns  and  a  company  of  cavalry  about 
ninety  strong. 

Informed  at  half-past  five  A.  M  ,  by  Colonel  Evans, 
that  the  enemy  had  deployed  some  1,200  men,  [these 
were  what  Colonel  Evans  saw  of  General  Schenck's  bri- 
gade, of  General  Tyler's  division,  and  two  other  heavy 
brigades,  in  all  over  9,000  men  and  thirteen  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery— Carlisle's  and  Ayres's  batteries.  That  is,  900 
men  and  two  six  pounders,  confronted  by  9,000  men  and 
thirteen  pieces  of  artillery,  mostly  rifled,]  with  several 
pieces  of  artillery  in  his  immediate  front.  I  at  once  or- 
dered him,  as  also  General  Cocke,  if  attacked,  to  main- 
tain their  position  to  the  last  extremity. 

In  my  opinion,  the  most  effective  method  of  relieving 
that  flank  was  by  a  rapid,  determined  attack,  with  my 
right  wing  and  centre  on  the  enemy's  Hank  and  rear  at 
Centreville,  with  due  precaution  against  the  advance  of 
his  reserve  from  the  direction  of  Washington.  By  such 
a  movement  1  confidently  expected  to  achieve  a  complete 
victory  for  my  country  by  12  o'clock  M. 

These  new  dispositions  were  submitted  to  General 
Johnston,  who  fully  approved  them,  and  the  orders  for 
their  immediate  execution  were  at  once  issued. 

Brigadier  General  Ewell  was  directed  to  begin  the 
movement,  to  be  followed  and  supported  successfully  by 
Generals  D.  R.  Jones,  Longstreet  and  Bonham  respec- 
tively, supported  by  their  several  appointed  reserves. 

The  cavalry,  under  Stuart  and  Radford,  were  to  beheld 
in  hand,  subject  to  future  orders  and  ready  for  employ- 


5 

ment,   as   might  be  required  liy  the  exigencies 
battle. 

About  half-past  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  General  Jolu^H 
and  myself  transferred  our  headquarters  to  a  central  po- 
sition, about  half  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  Mitchell's 
whence  we  might  watch  the    course  of  events. 

Previously,  as  early  as  half-past  live,  the  federalist s^M 
front  of  Evans'  position,  Stone  Bridge,  had  opened  with 
a  large  thirty-pounder.  Parrot  rifle  gun,  and  thirty  mi- 
nutes later  with  a  moderate,  apparently  tentative,  fire 
from  a  battery  of  rifle  pieces,  directed  first  in  front  at 
Evans'  and  then  in  the  direction  of  Cocke's  position,  but 
without  drawing  a  return  lire  and  discovery  of  our  posi- 
tions, chiefly  because  in  that  quarter  we  had  nothing  but 
eight  six-pounder  pieces,  which  could  not  reach  the  dis- 
tant enemy. 

As  tie-  federalists  had  advanced  with  an  extended  line 
of  skirmishers  in  front  of  Evans,  that  officer  promptly 
threw  forward  the  two  flank  companies  of  the  Fourth 
South  Carolina  regiment  and  one  company  of  Wheat's 
Louisiana  battalion,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  to  cover 
his  small  front.  An  occasional  scattering  fire  resulted, 
and  thus  the  two  armies  in  that  quarter  remained  for 
more  than  an  hour,  while  the  main  body  of  the  enemy 
was  marching  its  dubious  way  through  the  "big  forest.'' 
to  take  our  forces  in  flank  ami  rear. 

By  half-past  eight,  A.  ML,  Colonel  Evans  having  be- 
come satisfied  of  me  counterfeit  character  of  the  move- 
ment on  his  front,  and  persuaded  of  an  attempt  to  turn 
his  Left  dank,  decided  to  change  his  position  to  meet  the 
enemy,  and  for  this  purpose  immediately  put  in  motion 
to  his  left  and  rear  six  companies  of  Sloan's  Fourth 
South  Carolina  regiment,  Wheat's  Louisiana  battalions, 
live  companies,  and  two  six-pounders  of  Latham's  bat- 
tery, leaving  four  companies  of  Sloan's  regi ment  under 
cover  as  the  sole  immediate  defence  of  the  Stone  Bridge, 
but  giving  information  to  General  Cocke  of  his  change 
of  position  and  the  reasons  that  impelled  it. 

Following  a  road  leading  by  the  Old  Pittsylvania  (Car- 
ter) mansion,  Colonel  Evans  formed  in  line  of  battle 
some  four  hundred  yards  in  rear — as  he  advanced — of 
that  house,  his  guns  to  the  front  and  in  position,  properly 
supported,  to  its  immediate  right.  Finding,  however, 
that  the  enemy  did  not  appear  on  that  road,  which  was 
a  branch  of  one  running  by  Sudley's  Springs  Ford  to 
Brentsvillc  and  Dumfries,  he  turned  abruptly  to  the  left, 
and  marching  across  the  fields  for  three-quarters  of  a 


I 


6 

mile,  about  half-past  nine,  A.  M.,  took  a  position  in  line 
^^Hhttlc :  his  left,  Sloan's  companies,  noting  on  the 
uijain  Brentsville  road  in  a  shallow  ravine,  the  Louisiana 

Blion  to  the  right,  in  advance  sonic  two  hundred 
yards,  a  rectangular  course  of  wood  separating  them — 
^^^ueee  of  his  artillery  planted  on  an  eminence  some 
Bevcn  hundred  yards  to  the  rear  of  Wheat's  battalion, 
and  the  other  on  a  ridge  near  and  in  rear  of  Sloan's 
position,  commanding  a  reach  of  the  road  just  in  front 
of  the  line  of  battle.  In  this  order  he  awaited  the  com- 
ing of  the  masses  of  the  enemy  now  drawing  near. 

In  the  meantime,  about  seven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Jack- 
son's brigade,  with  Imboden's,  and  five  pieces  of  Wal- 
ton's battery,  had  been  sent  to  take  up  a  position  along 
Bull  run  to  guard  the  interval  between  Cocke's  right  and 
Bonham's  left,  with  orders  to  support  either  in  ease  of 
need — the  character  and  topographical  features  of  the 
ground  having  been  shown  to  General  Jackson  by  Cap- 
tain D.  R.  Harris  of  the  Engineers,  of  this  army  corps. 

So  much  of  Bee's  and  Bartow's  brigades,  now  united 
as  had  arrived — some  2,800  muskets — had  also  been  sent 
forward  to  the  support  of  the  position  of  the  Stone 
Bridge. 

The  enemy  beginning  his  detour  from  the  turnpike,  at 
a  point  nearly  half  way  between  Stone  Bridge  and  Cen- 
treville,  had  pursued  a  tortuous,  narrow  trace  of  a  rare- 
ly used  road,  through  a  dense  wood,  the  greater  part  of 
his  way,  until  near  the  Sudley  road.  A  division  under 
Colonel  Hunter,  of  the  federal  regular  army,  of  two 
strong  brigades,  was  in  the  advance,  followed  immedi- 
ately by  another  division  under  Colonel  Heintzelman,  of 
three  brigades  and  seven  companies  of  regular  cavalry 
and  twenty-four  pieces  of  artillery — eighteen  of  which 
were  rifle  guns.  This  column,  as  it  crossed  Bull  run, 
numbered  over  sixteen  thousand  men  of  all  arms,  by 
their  own  accounts. 

Burnside's  brigade,  which  here,  as  at  Fairfax  Court 
House,  led  the  advance,  at  about  forty-five  minutes  past 
nine,  A.  31.,  debouched  from  a  wood  in  sight  of  Evans' 
position,  some  five  hundred  yards  distant  from  Wheat's 
battalion. 

He  immediately  threw  forward  his  skirmishers  in  force 
and  they  became  engaged  with  Wheat's  command  and 
the  six  pounder  gun  under  Lieutenant  Leftwich. 

The  federalists  at  once  advanced,  as  they  report  offi- 
cially, the  Second  Rhode  Island  regiment  volunteers, 
with  its  vaunted  battery  of  six  thirteen  pounder  rifle 


¥ 


m 


guns.  Sloan's  companies  were  then  brought  into  actflH 
having  been  pushed  forward  through  the  woods,  n 
enemy,  soon  galled  and  staggered  by  the  fire,  and  press™ 
by  the  determined  valor  Avith  which  Wheat  handled  jj 
battery,  until  he  was  desperately  wounded,  hastens 
three  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  ami  two  l>ahl 
howitzers,  making  in  all  quite  3,500  bayonets  and  ei 
pieces  of  artillery,  opposed  to  loss  than  800  men  and 
six-pounder  guns. 

Despite  these  odds,  this  intrepid  command  of  but  eleven 
weak  companies  maintained  its  front  to  the  enemy  for 
((iiite  an  hour,  and  until  General  Bee  came  to  their  aid 
with  his  command.  The  heroic  Bee.  with  a  soldier's  eye 
and  recognition  of  the  situation,  had  previously  disposed 
his  command  with  skill — Imboden's  battery  having  been 
admirably  placed  between  the  two  brigades  under  shel- 
ter behind  the  undulations  of  a  hill  about  150  yards  north 
of  the  now  famous  Henry  House,  and  very  near  where 
he  subsequently  fell  mortally  wounded,  to  the  great  mis- 
fortune of  his  country,  but  after  deeds  of  deliberate  and 
ever-memorable  courage. 

Meanwhile,  the  enemy  had  pushed  forward  a  battalion 
of  eight  companies  of  regular  infantry  and  one  of  their 
best  batteries  of  six  pieces,  (four  rifled,)  supported  by 
lour  companies  of  marines,  to  increase  the  desperate  odds 
against  which  Evans  and  his  men  had  maintained  their 
Stand  with  an  almost  matchless  tenacity. 

General  Bee.  now  finding  Evans  sorely  pressed  under 
the  crushing  weight  of  the  masses  of  the  enemy,  at  the 
call  of  Colonel  Evans  threw  forward  his  whole  force  to 
his  aid  across  a  small  stream — Young's  Branch  and 
Valley — and  engaged  the  federalists  With  impetuosity: 
Imboden's  battery  at  the  time  playing  from  his  well 
chosen  position -with  brilliant  effects,  with  spherical  case, 
the  enemy  having  first  opened  on  him  from  a  rifle  battery, 
probably  Griffin's,  with  elongated  cylindrical  shells, 
which  flew  a  few  feet  over  the  heads  of  our  men,  and 
exploded  in  the  crest  of  the  hill  immediately  in  rear. 

As  Bee  advanced  under  a  severe  fire  he  placed  the 
Seventh  and  Eighth  Georgia  regiments  under  the  chival- 
rous Bartow,  at  about  eleven  A.  M.,  in  a  wood  of  second 
growth  pines,  to  the  right  and  front  of  and  nearly  per- 
pendicular to  Evans'  line  of  battle,  the  Fourth  Alabama 
to  the  left  of  them,  along  a  fence  connecting  the  position 
of  the  Georgia  regiments  with  the  rectangular  copse  in 
which  Sloan's  South  Carolina  companies  were  engaged, 
and  into  which  he  also  threw  the  Second  Mississippi.    A 


^■ce  and  destructive  conflict  now  ensued  ;  the  tire  was 
^Hhering  on  both  sides,  while  the  enemy  Bwept  our 
^rort.  thin  linos  with  their  numerous  artillery,  which, 
^^ording  to  their  official  reports,  at  this  time  consisted 

^^t  least  ton  rifle  guns  and  tour  howitzers.  For  an  hour 
Hp  these  stout-hearted  men  of  the  blended  command  of 
Bee.  Evans  and  Bartow  breast  an  nnintermitting  battle 
Storm,  animated,  Burely,  by  something  more  than  the 
ordinary  courage  of  even  the  bravest  men  under  tire;  it 
must  have  been  indeed  the  inspiration  of  the  cause,  and 
consciousness  of  the  great  stake  at  issue,  which  thus 
nerved  and  animated  one  and  all  to  stand  unawed  and 
unshrinking;  in  such  extremity. 

Two  federal  brigades  of  Ileintzelman's  division  were 
now  brought  into  action,  led  by  Rickett's  superb  light 
battery  of  six  ten-pounder  rifie  guns,  which,  posted  On  an 
eminence  to  the  right  of  the  Smiley  road,  opened  lire  on 
Imbodcn's  battery — about  this  time,  increased  by  two 
rifle  pieces  of  theWashington  Artillery,  under  Lieutenant 
Richardson,  and  already  the  mark  of  two  batteries, 
which  divided  their  fire"  with  Imboden,  and  two  guns, 
under  Lieutenants  Davidson  and  Leftwich,  of  Latham's 
battery,  posted  as  before  mentioned. 

At  this  time,  confronting  the  enemy,  Ave  had  still  but 
Evans'  eleven  companies  and  two  guns — Bee's  and  Bar- 
tow's four  regiments,  the  two  companies,  Eleventh  Missis- 
sippi, under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Liddell,  and  the  six  pieces 
under  Imboden  and  Richardson.  The  enemy  had  two 
divisions  of  four  strong  brigades,  including  seventeen 
companies  of  regular  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery, 
four  companies  of  marines,  and  twenty  pieees  of  ar- 
tillery. [Sec  official  reports  of  Colonels  Heintzelman, 
Porter,  &C.]  Against  this  odds,  scarcely  credible,  our 
advance  position  was  still  for  a  while  maintained,  and 
the  enemy's  ranks  constantly  broken  and  shattered  under 
the  scorching  fire  of  our  men  ;  but  fresh  regiments  of 
the  federalists  came  upon  the  field— Sherman's  and 
Keyes'  brigades  of  Tyler's  division— as  is  stated  in  their 
reports,  numbering  over  0,000  bayonets,  which  had  found 
a  passage  across  the  run  about  eight  hundred  yards  above 
the  Stone  Bridge,  threatened  our  right. 

Heavy  losses  had  now  been  sustained  on  our  side,  both 
in  numbers  and  in  the  personal  worth  of  the  slain.  The 
Georgia  regiment  had  suffered  heavily,  being  exposed,  as 
it  took  and  maintained  its  position,  to  a  lire  from  the 
enemy,  already  posted  within  a  hundred  yards  of  their 
front  and  right,  sheltered  by  fences  and  other  cover.     It 


was  at  this  time  that  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gardener 
severely  wounded,  as  also  several  other  valuable  orficfl 
the  Adjutant  of  the   regiment,   Lieutenant  Branch,  ^M 
killed,  and  the  horse  of  the  regretted  Bartow  was  sH 
under  him.     The  Fourth  Alabama  also  suffered  seve tM 
from  the   deadly  fire  of  the  thousands  of  muskets  \d 
they  so  dauntlessly  fronted,  under  the  immediate  lea 
ship  of  Bee  himself.     Its  brave  Colonel  E.  J.  Jones 
dangerously   wounded,    and    many   gallant   officers 
slain  or  hors  de  combat. 

Now,  however,  with  the  surging  mass  of  over  four- 
teen thousand  federal  infantry  pressing  on  their  front, 
and  under  the  incessant  fire  of  at  least  twenty  pieces  of 
artillery,  with  the  fresh  brigades  of  Sherman  and  Keycs 
approaching- — the  latter  already  in  musket  range — our 
lines  gave  hack,  but  under  orders  from  Gen.  Bee. 

The  enemy,  maintaining  the  fire,  pressed  their  swell- 
ing masses  onward  as  our  shattered  battalions  retired  ; 
the  slaughter  for  the  moment  was  deplorable,  and  has 
filled  many  a  Southern  home  with  life-long  Borrow. 

Under  this  inexorable  stress  the  retreat  continued 
until  arrested  by  the  energy  and  resolution  of  Gen.  Bee, 
supported  by  Bartow  and  Evans,  just  in  the  rear  of  the 
Robinson  House,  and  Hampton's  Legion,  which  had  been 
already  advanced,  and  was  in  position  near  it. 

Imbodcn's  battery,  which  had  been  handled  with  mark- 
ed skill,  but  whose  men  were  almost  exhausted,  and 
the  two  pieces  of  Walton's  battery  under  Lieutenant 
Richardson,  being  threatened  by  the  enemy's  infantry  on 
the  left  and  front,  were  also  obliged  to  fall  back.  Imbo- 
den,  leaving  a  disabled  piece  on  the  ground,  retired  until 
he  met  Jackson's  brigade,  while  Richardson  joined  the 
main  body  of  his  battery  near  the  Lewis  House. 

As  our  infantry  retired  from  the  extreme  front  the  two 
six-pounders  of  Latham's  battery,  before  mentioned,  1**11 
back  with  excellent  judgment  to  suitable  positions  in  the 
rear,  when  an  effective  fire  was  maintained  upon  the  still 
advancing  lines  of  the  federalists  with  damaging  effect, 
until  their  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  when  they, 
too,  were  withdrawn  in  the  near  presence  of  the  enemy, 
and  rejoined  their  captain. 

From  the  point  previously  indicated,  where  General 
Johnston  and  myself  had  established  our  headquarters, 
we  heard  the  continuous  roll  of  musketry  and  the  sus- 
tained din  of  the  artillery,  which  announced  the  serious 
outburst  of  the  battle  on  our  left  flank,  and  we  anxiously, 
but  confidently,  awaited  similar  sounds  of  conflict  from 


front  at  Centreville,  resulting  from  the  prescrib<  i  at- 
in  that  quarter  by  our  right  wing. 
.t  half-past  ten  in  the  morning,  however,  this  ex] 
was  dissipated,  from  Brigadier  General  Ewell  inform- 
Ht  me,  to  my  profound  disappointment,  that  my  orders 
^HUiis  advance  had  miscarried,  hut  that,  in  cm-cijiicneo 
^^pcommnniratinn  i'rom  (ioneral  J>.  R.  .Junes,  lie  had 
Hpt  thrown  his  brigade  across  the  stream  a;  Union  Mills. 
JT>nt,  in  my  judgment,  it  was  now  too  late  for  the  effective 
execution  of  the  contemplated  movement,  which  must 
have  required  quite  three  hours  For  the  troops  to  get  into 
position  for  the  attack;  therefore,  it  became  immediately 
ssary  to  depend  on  new  combinations  and  other 
dispositions  suited  to  the  now  pressing  exigency.  The 
movement  of  the  right  and  centre,  already  begun  by 
Jones  and  Longstreet,  was  at  once  countermanded  with 
the  sanction  of  General  Johnston,  and  wc  arranged  to 
meet  the  enemy  on  the  field  upon  which  he  had  chosen  to 
give  us  battle.  Under  these  circumstances  our  reserves, 
not  already  in  movement,  were  immediately  ordered  up 
to  support  our  left  flank,  namely — Holmes'  two  regi- 
ments and  battery  of  artillery,  under  Captain  Lindsey 
"Walker,  of  six  guns,  and  Early's  brigade.  Two  regi- 
ments from  Bonham's  brigade,  with  Kemper's  four  six- 
pounders,  were  also  called  for,  and,  with  the  sanction  of 
General  Johnston,  Generals  Ewell,  Jones,  (D.  K..)  Long- 
street  and  Bonham  were  directed  to  make  a  demonstra- 
tion to  their  several  fronts  to  retain  and  engross  the 
enemy's  reserves  and  forces  on  their  flank,  and  at  and 
around  Centreville.  Previously,  our  respective  chiefs  of 
staff — Major  Rhett  and  Colonel  Jordan — had  been  left  at 
my  headquarters  to  hasten  up,  and  give  directions  to  any 
troops  that  might  arrive  at  Manassas. 

These  orders  having  been  duly  dispatched  by  staff  offi- 
cers, at  10.30  A.  M„  General  Johnston  and  myself  set  out 
for  the  immediate  field  of  action,  which  we  reached  in 
the  rear  of  the  Robinson  and  widow  Henry's  houses,  at 
about  12  meridian,  and  just  as  the  commands  of  Bee, 
Bartow  and  Evans  had  taken  shelter  in  a  wooded  ravine 
behind  the  former,  stoutly  held  at  the  time  by  Hampton 
with  his  legion,  which  had  made  a  stand  there  after  hav- 
ing previously  been  as  far  forward  as  the  turnpike,  where 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Johnston,  an  officer  of  brilliant  pro- 
mise, was  killed,  and  other  severe  losses  were  sustained. 
Before  our  arrival  upon  the  scene  General  Jackson  had 
moved  forward  with  his  brigade  of  live  Virginia  regi- 
ments from  his  position  in  reserve,  and    had  judiciously 


11 

taken  post  below  the  brim  of  the  plateau,  nearly  easj 
the  Henry  house,  and  to  the  left  of  the  ravine  and  woM 
occupied  by  the  mingled  remnants  of  Bee's,  Bartow's  an 
Evans'  commands,  with  Imboden'a  battery,  and  twojjH 
Stanard's  pieces  placed  so  as  to  play  upon  the  oncom^M 
enemy,  supported  in  the  immediate  rear  by  Colonel  J^H 
Preston's  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Echoll's  regiments,  on 
the  right  by  Harper's  and  on  the  left  by  Allen's  and 
Cumming's  regiment. 

As  soon  as  General  Johnston  and  myself  reached  the 
field,  we  were  occupied  with  the  reorganization  of  the 
heroic  troops,  whose  previous  stand,  with  scarce  a  paral- 
lel, has  nothing  more  valiant  in  all  the  pages  of  history. 
and  whose  losses  fitly  tell  why,  at  length,  their  lines  had 
lost  their  cohesion.  It  was  now  that  General  Johnston 
impressively  and  gallantly  charged  to  the  front  with  the 
colors  of  the  Fourth  Alabama  regiment  by  his  side,  all 
the  field  officers  of  the  regiment  having  been  prcviousl}- 
disabled.  Shortly  afterwards  I  placed  S.  R.  Gist,  Adju- 
tant and  Inspector  General  of  South  Carolina,  a  volunteer 
Aid-de-Camp  of  General  Bee,  in  command  of  this  regi- 
ment, and  who  led  it  again  to  the  front  as  became  its 
previous  behavior,  and  remained  with  it  for  the  rest  of 
the  day. 

As  soon  as  we  had  thus  rallied  and  disposed  our  forces, 
I  urged  General  Johnston  to  leave  the  immediate  conduct 
of  the  field  to  me,  while  he,  repairing  to  Portico — the 
Lewis  House — should  urge  reinforcements  forward.  At 
first  he  was  unwilling,  but  reminded  that  one  of  us  must 
do  so,  and  that  properly  it  was  his  place,  he  reluctantly, 
but  fortunately,  complied ;  fortunately,  because  from 
that  position,  by  his  energy  and  sagacity,  his  keen  per- 
ception and  anticipation  of  my  needs  he  so  directed  the 
reserves  as  to  ensure  the  success  of  the  day. 

As  GeneralJohuston  departed  for  Portico  Colonel  Bar- 
tow reported  to  me  with  the  remains  of  the  Seventh 
Georgia  Volunteers  (Gartrell's)  which  I  ordered  him  to 
post  on  the  left  of  Jackson's  line,  in  the  edge  of  the  belt 
of  pines  bordering  the  southeastern  rim  of  the  plateau,  on 
which  the  battle  was  now  to  rage  so  long  and  so  fiercely. 

Colonel  Wm.  Smith's  battalion  of  the  Forty-ninth  Vir- 
ginia Volunteers,  having  also  come  up  by  my  orders,  I 
placed  it  on  the  left  of  Gartrell's  as  my  extreme  left  at 
the  time.  Repairing  then  to  the  right  I  placed  Hamp- 
ton's Legion,  which  had  suffered  greatly  on  that  flank 
somewhat  to  the  rear  of  Harper's  regiment,  and  also 
the  seven  companies  of  the  Eighth  (Hunton's)  Virginia 


12 

nont.  which,  detached  from  Cocke's  brigade  by  my 
re  and  those  of  General  Johnston,  had  opportunely 
ached  the  ground.  These,  with  Harper's  regiment, 
istitutnl  a  reserve,  to  protect  our  right  flank  from  an 
lance  of  the  enemy  from  the  quarter  of  the  stone 
Hge,  and  served  as  a  support  for  the  line  of  bat- 
I.'.  which  was  formed  oo  the  right  by  Bee's  and  Evans' 
commands,  in  the  centre  by  four  regiments  of  Jack- 
son's brigade,  with  Imboden's  lour  six-pounders,  Wal- 
ton'.- five  guns,  (two  rilled.)  two  guns,  (one  piece  rifled,) 
of  Stanar'd's  and  two  six-pounders  of  Rogers'  batte- 
ries, the  latter  under  Lieut.  HeatOD  :  and  on  the  left  by 
Gartrell's  reduced  ranks  and  Col.  Smith's  battalion,  subse- 
quently reinforced  Faulkner's  Second  Mississippi  regi- 
ment, and  by  another  regiment  of  the  Army  of  Shenan- 
doah, just  arrived  upon  the  field,  the  Sixth  (Fisher's) 
North  Carolina.  Confronting  the  enemy  at  this  time 
my  force  cumbered,  at  most,  not  more  than  6,500  infan- 
try and  artillerists,  with  but  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery. 
and  two  companies  (Carter's  and  Hoge's)  of  Stuart's 
cavalry. 

Theenemy's  force,  now  bearing  hotly  and  confidently 
down  on  our  position,  regiment  alter  regiment  of  the  best 
equipped  men  that  ever  took  the  iield — according  to  their 
own  ollicial  history  of  the  day — was  formed  of  Colonels 
Hunter's  and  Heintzelman's  divisions.  Colonels  Sher- 
man's and  Keyes'  brigades  of  Tyler's  division,  and 
of  the  formidable  batteries  of  Ricketts,  Griffin,  and  Ar- 
nold regulars,  and  Second  Rhode  Island,  and  two  Dahl- 
gren  howitzers — a  force  of  over  20,000  infantry,  seven 
companies  of  regular  cavalry  and  twenty-four  pieces  of 
improve*!  artillery.  At  the  same  time  perilous,  heavy 
reserves  of  infantry  and  artillery  hung  in  the  distance 
around  the  Stone  Bridge,  .Mitchell's.  Blackburn's  and 
Union  Mills  fords,  visibly  ready  to  fall  upon  us  at  any 
moment:  and  1  was  also  assured  of  the  existence  of  other 
heavy  corps  at  and  around  Centroville  and  elsewhere, 
within  convenient  supporting  distances. 

Fully  conscious  of  this  portentous  disparity  of  force,  as 
I  posted  the  lines  for  the  encounter,  1  sought  to  infuse 
into  the  hearts  of  my  officers  and  men  the  confident 
determined  spirit  of  resistance  to  this  wicked  invasion  of 
the  homes  of  a  free  people,  which  1  felt.  1  informed 
them  that  reinforcements  would  rapidly  come  to  their 
support,  and  we  must  at  all  hazards  hold  our  posts  until 
reinforced^  I  reminded  them  that  we  fought  for  our 
homes    our  firesides  and   for   the  independence  of  our 


country.  I  urged  them  to  the  resolution  of  victor^ 
death  on  that  field.  These  sentiment-  were  loudly, 
eagerly  cheered,  wheresoever  proclaimed,  and  I  then^M 
reassured  of  the  unconquerable  spirit  of  that  arnH 
which  would  enable  us  to  wrench  victory  from  the  j^H 
then  threatening  us  with  destruction. 

Oh,  my  country  !  I  would  readily  have  sacrificed 
life,  and  those  of  all  the  bravo   men  around  me,  to  s9 
your  honor  and  to  maintain  your  independence  from  th 
degrading  yoke  which  those  ruthless  invaders  had  come 
to  impose  and  render  perpetual  :   and  the  day's  issue  has 
assured  me  that  such  emotions  must  also  have  animated 
all  under  my  command. 

In  the  meantime,  the  enemy  bad  seized  upon  the  pla- 
teau on  which  Robinson's  and  the  Henry  bouses  are  situ- 
ated— the  position  first  occupied  in  the  morning  by  Gen. 
Bee,  before  advancing  to  the  support  of  Evans.  Iliokett's 
battery  of  six  rilled  guns — the  pride  of  the  federalists, 
the  object  of  their  unstinted  expenditure  in  outfit — and 
the  equally  powerful  regular  Light  battery  of  (iriffin, 
were  brought  forward  and  placed  in  immediate  action, 
after  having,  conjointly  with  the  batteries  already  men- 
tioned, played  from  former  positions  with  destructive 
effect  upon  our  forward  battalions. 

The  topographical  features  of  the  plateau,  now  become 
the  stage  01  the  contending  armies,  must  be  described  in 
outline. 

A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  that  it  is  enclosed  on 
three  sides  by  small  water  courses,  which  empty  into 
Bull  run  within  a  few  yards  of  each  other,  half  a  mile  to 
the  south  of  Stone  Bridge.  Rising  to  an  elevation  of 
quite  one  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  Bull  run  at  the 
bridge,  it  falls  off  on  three  sides  to  the  level  of  the  en- 
closing streams  in  gentle  slopes,  but  which  are  furrowed 
by  ravines  of  irregular  direction  and  length,  and  studded 
with  clumps  and  patches  of  young  pines  and  oaks.  The 
general  direction  of  the  crest  of  the  plateau  is  oblique 
to  the  course  of  Bull  run  in  that  quarter;  and  on  the 
Brentsvillc  and  turnpike  roads,  which  intersect  each 
other  at  right  angles.  Completely  surrounding  the  two 
houses  before  mentioned  are  small  open  fields,  of  irregu- 
lar outline,  and  exceeding  150  acres  in  extent.  The 
houses,  occupied  at  the  time,  the  one  by  widow  Henry 
and  the  other  by  the  free  negro  Robinson,  are  small 
wooden  buildings,  densely  embowered  in  trees  and  en- 
vironed by  a  double  row  of  fences  on  two  sides.  Around 
the  easten,  ;!-.,i  southern  brow  of  the  plateau  an  almost 

9 


^■ji-okon  fringe  of  second  growth  pines  gave  excellent 

^plt'-r  for  our  marksmen,  who  availed  themselves  of  it 

pth  the  most  satisfactory  skill.     To  the  west,  adjoining 

ie  fields,  ;i   broad  belt  of  < »aks  extends  directly  across 

crest  on  both  sides  of  the  Sttdley  road,  in  which, 

Ine  the  battle,  regiments  of  both  armies  met  and  con- 

[dea  for  the  mastery. 
r  From  the  open  ground  of  this  plateau  the  view  em- 
braces a  wide  expanse  of  woods  and  gently  undulating 
open  country  of  broad  grass  and  grain  fields  in  all  direc- 
tion-, including  the  scene  of  Evans'  and  Bee's  recent 
encounter  with  the  enemy — some  twelve  hundred  yards 
to  tli"  northward. 

\\\  reply  to  the  play  of  the  enemy's  batteries  our  own 
artillery  had  not  been  idle  or  unskillful.  The  ground 
occupied  by  our  guns,  on  a  level  with  that  held  by  the 
batteries  of  the  enemy,  was  an  open  space  of  limited  ex- 
tent, behind  a  low  undulation,  just  at  the  eastern  verge 
of  the  plateau,  some  500  or  GOO  yards  from  the  Henry 
House.  Here,  as  before  said,  some  thirteen  pieces,  mostly 
six-pounders,  were  maintained  in  action.  The  several 
batteries  of  Imboden,  Stanard,  Pendleton',  (Rockbridge 
artillery,)  and  Alburtis',  of  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah, 
and  five  guns  of  Walton's,  andHeaton's  section  of  Rogers' 
battery,  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  alternating  to  some 
extent  with  each  other,  ami  taking  part  as  needed;  all 
from  the  outset  displaying  that  marvellous  capacity  of 
our  people  as  artillerists  which  has  made  them,  it  would 
appear,  at  once,  the  terror  and  admiration  of  the  enemy. 

As  was  soon  apparent,  the  federalists  had  suffered  se- 
verely from  our  artillery,  and  from  the  lire  of  our  mus- 
ketry on  the  right,  and  especially  from  the  left  flank, 
plied  under  coyer,  within  whose  galling  range  they  had 
been  advanced.  And  we  are  told  in  their  official  reports 
how  regiment  after  regiment,  thrown  forward  to  dislodge 
us,  was  broken,  never  to  recover  its  entire  organization 
on  that  field. 

In  the  meantime,  also,  two  companies  of  Stuart's  cav- 
alry, (Carter's  andlloge's,)  made  a  dashing  charge  down 
the  Brentsville  and  Budleyroad  upon  the  Fire  Zouaves — 
then  the  enemy's  right  on  the  plateau — which  added  to 
their  disorder,  wrought  by  our  musketry  on  that  flank. 
But  still  the  pressof  the  enemy  was  heavy  on  that  quar- 
ter of  the  field,  as  fresh  troops  were  thrown  forward 
there  to  outflank  us,  ami  some  three  guns  of  a  battery,  in 
an  attempt  to  obtain  a  position  apparently  to  enfilade  our 
batteries,  were  thrown  close  to  the  Thirty-third  regiment, 


13 


Jackson's  brigade,  that  regiment  springing  forwa^B 
seized  them,  but  with  severe  loss,  and  was  subsequen^H 
driven  back  by  an  overpowering  force  of  federal  )\\^M 
ketry. 

Now,  fall   two  o'clock   P.  M.,  T  gave  the  order  for  jfl 
right  of  my  line,  except  my  reserves,   to  advance  t<>^ 
cover  the  plateau.     It  was  done  with  uncommon  resd 
tion  and  vigor,    and   at  the  same  time  Jackson's  briga 
pierced  the  enemy's  centre  with  the  determination   of 
veterans,  and  the  spirit  of  men  who  fight   for  a  sacred 
cause:  but  it  suffered  seriously.     With  equal  spirit  the 
other   parts  of  the    line   made   the  onset  and   the  federal 
lines  were  broken  and  swept  back,  at  all  points,  from  the 
open  ground  of  the  plateau.     Rallying  soon,  however,  as 
they  were  strongly  reinforced  by  fresh   regiments,  the 
federalists  returned,  and   by  weight  of  numbers  pressed 
our  lines   back,  recovering  their  ground    and  guns,  and 
renewed  the  offensive. 

By  this  time,  between  half-past  two  and  three  o'clock 
I*.  M..  our  reinforcements  pushed  forward,  and,  directed 
by  General  Johnston  to  the  required  quarter,  were  at 
hand  just  as  1  had  ordered  forward,  to  a  second  effort, 
for  the  recovery  of  the  disputed  plateau,  the  whole  line, 
including  my  reserves,  which,  at  this  crisis  of  the  battle, 
I  felt  called  upon  to  lead  in  person.  This  attack  was 
general,  and  was  shared  in  by  every  regiment  then  in  the 
field,  including  the  Sixth  (Fisher's)  North  Carolina  regi- 
ment, which  had  just  come  up  and  taken  position  on  the 
immediate  left  of  the  Forty-ninth  Virginia  regiment.  The 
whole  open  ground  was  again  swept  cleat  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  plateau  around  the  Henry  and  Robinson  houses 
remained  finally  in  our  possession,  with  the  greater  part 
of  the  Ricketts  and  Griffin  batteries,  ami  a  flag  of  the 
First  Michigan  regiment,  captured  by  the  Twenty-seventh 
Virginia  regiment.  (Lieutenant  Colonel  Echolls,)  of  Jack- 
son's brigade.  This  part  of  the  day  was  rich  with  deeds 
of  individual  coolness  and  dauntless  conduct,  as  well  as 
well  directed  embodied  resolution  and  bravery,  but 
fraught  with  the  loss  to  the  service  of  the  country  of 
lives  of  inestimable  preciousness  at  this  junction.  The 
brave  Bee  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  head  of  the 
Fourth  Alabama  and  some  Mississippians,  in  open  field 
near  the  Henry  House,  and  a  few  yards  distant  the 
promising  life  of  Bartow,  while  leading  the  Seventh 
Georgia  regiment,  was  quenched  in  blood  Colonel  F. 
J.  Thomas,  Acting  Chief  of  Ordnance,  of  General  .John- 
ston's staff,  after  gallant  conduct  and   most  efficient   ser- 


^Kr,  was  also  slain.  Colonel  Fisher,  Sixth  North  Caro- 
lina, likewise  Ceil,  after  Boldierly  behavior,  at  the  h< 
his  regiment,  with  ranks  greatly  thinned. 
•"Withers'  Eighteenth  regiment  of  Cocke's  brigade  had 
come  up  in  time  to  follow  this  charge,  and,  in  conjunction 
^Hn  Hampton's  Legion,  captured  several  rife  pieces 
Mrnich  may  have  fallen  previously  in  possession  of  some 
of  our  troops  ;  but  if  so.  had  been  recovered  by  tin-  ene- 
my. These  pieces  were  immediately  turned  and  effec- 
tively served  on  distant  masses  of  the  enemy  by  the 
hands  of  some  of  our  officers. 

While  the  enemy  had  thus  been  driven  back  on  our 
right  entirely  across  the  turnpike,  and  beyond  Young's 
branch  on  our  left,  the  woods  yet  swarmed  with  them, 
when  our  reinforcements  opportunely  arrived  in  quick 
succession,  and  took  position  in  that  portion  of  the  Held. 
Kershaw's  Second  and  Cash's  Eighth  South  Carolina 
regiments,  which  had  arrived  soon  after  Withers',  were 
led  through  the  oaks  just  east  of  the  Sudloy-Brentsville 
road,  brushing  some  of  the  enemy  before  them,  and. 
taking  an  advantageous  position  along,  and  west  of  (hat 
road,  opened  with  much  skill  and  effect  on  bodies  of  the 
enemy  that  had  been  rallied  under  cover  of  a  strong 
federal  brigade  posted  on  a  plateau  in  the  southwest 
angle,  formed  by  intersection  of  the  turnpike  with  the 
Sudhw-Brentsville  road.  Among  the  troops  thus  en- 
gaged were  the  federal  regular  infantry. 

At  the  same  time,  Kemper's  battery,  passing  north- 
ward by  the  S.-B.  road,  took  position  on  the  open  space 
— under  orders  of  Colonel  Kershaw — near  where  an 
enemy's  battery  had  been  captured,  was  opened  with 
effective  results  upon  the  federal  right,  then  the  mark 
also  of  Kershaw's  and  Cash's  regiments. 

Preston's  Twenty-eighth  regiment,  of  Cocke's  brigade, 
had  by  that  time  entered  the  same  body  of  oaks,  and 
encountered  some  .Michigan  troops,  capturing  their  brig- 
ade commander,  Colonel  Wilcox. 

Another  important  accession  to  our  I'nvrr^  had  also  oc- 
curred about  the  same  time,  at  three  o'clock  P.M.  Brig- 
adier General  E.  K.  Smith,  with  some  1,700  infantry  of 
Elzey's  brigade,  of  the  Army  of  the  Shenandoah,  and 
Beckham's  battery,  came  upon  the  field,  from  Camp 
Pickens,  .Manassas,  where  they  had  arrived  by  railroad 
at  noon.  Directed  in  person  by  General  Johnston  to  the 
left,  then  so  much  endangered,  on  reaching  a  position  in 
rear  of  the  oak  woods,  south  of  the  Henry  House,  and 
immediately  east  of  the  Sudley  road,  General  Smith  was 


disabled  by  a  severe  wound,  and  his  valuable  servl 
were  lost  at  that  critical  juncture.     But  the  coniniA 
devolved  upon  a  meritorious  officer  of  experience,  Colo  op* 
Elzey,  who  led  his  infantry  at  once  somewhat  further  V 
the  left,  in  the  direction  of  the  Chinn  House,  across  tjfl 
road,  through  the  oaks  skirting  the  west  side  of  the  ro^H 
and  around  which  he  sent  the  battery  under  Lieuten^M 
Beckham.     This  officer  took  up  a  most  favorable  positioi 
near  that  house,  whence,  with  a  clear  view  of  the  federal 
right   and  centre,  filling  the  open   fields    to   the   west   of 
the  Brentsville-Sudley  road,  and  gently  sloping  south- 
ward, he   opened    tire    with    his  battery  upon   them  with 
deadly  and  damaging  effect. 

Colonel  Marly,  who.  by  some  mischance,  did  not  re- 
ceive orders  until  two  o'clock,  which  had  been  sent  him 
;it  noon,  came  <>n  the  ground  immediately  alter  Elzey, 
with  Kemper's  Seventh  Virginia,  Hay's  Seventh  Louisi- 
ana, ami  Barksdale's  Thirteenth  Mississippi  regiments. 
This  brigade,  by  the  personal  direction  of  General  John- 
ston, was  marched  by  the  Holkham  House,  across  the 
fields  b»  the  left,  entirely  around  the  woods  through 
which  Elzey  had  passed,  and  under  a  severe  fire,  into  a 
position  in  line  of  battle,  near  Chinn's  House,  outflank- 
ing the  enemy's  right. 

At  this  time,  about  half  past  three  1\  M.,  the  enemy, 
driven  bark  on  their  left  and  centre,  and  brushed  from 
the  woods  bordering  the  Sudley  road,  south  and  we<r  .>!' 
the  Henry  House,  had  formed  a  line  of  battle  of  truly 
formidable  proportions,  of  crescent  outline,  reaching  on 
their  left  from  the  vicinity  of  Pittsylvania  (the  old  Car- 
ter mansion.)  by  Matthew's  and  in  rear  of  Dogan's, 
across  the  turnpike  near  to  Chinn's  house.  The  woods 
and  iields  were  filled  with  their  masses  of  infantry  and 
their  carefully  preserved  cavalry.  It  was  a  truly  mag- 
nificent, though  redoubtable  spectacle,  as  they  threw 
forward  in  fine  style,  on  the  broad,  gentle  slopes  of  the 
ridge  occupied  by  their  main  lines,  a  cloud  of  skirmish- 
ers, preparatory  for  another  attack. 

But  as  Early  formed  his  line,  and  Beckham's  pieces 
] (laying  upon  the  right  of  the  enemy,  Elzey's  brigade, 
Gibbon's  Tenth  Virginia,  Lieut.  Col.  Stuart's  First 
Maryland  and  Vaughn's  Third  Tennessee  regiments, 
and  Cash's  Eighth  and  Kershaw's  Second  South  Caroli- 
na, Withers'  Eighteenth  and  Preston's  Twenty-eighth 
Virginia,  advanced  in  an  irregular  line  almost  simulta- 
neously, with  great  spirit,  from  their  several  positions 
upon  the  front  and  flanks  of  the  enemy  in  their  quarter 


of  the  field.  At  the  same  time,  too,  Early  resolutely  as- 
sailo>l  their  right  think  and  rear,  ruder  the  combined 
attack  t lie  enemy  was    BOOH  forced,  first  over  the    narrow 

platean  in  the  southern  angle  made  by  the  two  roads,  s<> 
often  mentioned,  into  a  patch  of  woods  on  its  western 
slope,  thence  hack  over  Young's  branch  and  the  turnpike 
into  the  fields  of  the  Dugan  farm,  and  rearward,  in  ex- 
treme disorder,  in  all  available  directions,  towards  Bull 
^un.     The  route  had  now  become  general  and  complete. 

About  the  time  that  Elzey  and  Early  were  entering 
into  action,  a  column  of  the  enemy,  Keye's  brigade,  of 
Tyler's  division,  made  its  way  across  the  turnpike  be- 
tween Bull  run  and  the  Robinson  House,  under  cover  of 
a  wood  and  brow  of  the  ridges,  apparently  to  turn  my 
right,  but  was  easily  repulsed  by  a  few  shots  from  La- 
tham's battery,  now  united  and  placed  in  position  by 
Captain  D.  B.  Harris,  of  the  Virginia  engineers,  whose 
services  during  the  day  became  his  character  as  an  able, 
cool  and  skillful  officer,  and  from  Alburtis'  battery,  op- 
portunely ordered  by  Gen.  Jackson  to  a  position  to  the 
right  of  Latham,  on  a  hill  commanding  the  line  of  ap- 
proach of  the  enemy,  and  supported  by  portions  of  regi- 
ments collected  together  by  the  staff  officers  of  General 
Johnston  and  myself. 

Early's  brigade,  meanwhile,  joined  by  the  Nineteenth 
Virginia  regiment,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Strange,  of 
Cocke's  brigade,  pursued  the  nowr  panic  stricken,  fugi- 
tive enemy,  Stuart,  with  his  cavalry,  and  Beckham 
had  also  taken  up  the  pursuit  along  the  road  by  which 
the  enemy  had  come  upon  the  field  that  morning;  but, 
soon  encumbered  by  prisoners  who  thronged  his  way, 
the  former  wras  unable  to  attack  the  mass  of  the  fast  flee- 
ing frantic  federalists.  Withers',  11.  J.  Preston's,  Cash's 
and  Kershaw's  regiments,  Hampton's  Legion  and  Kemp- 
er's battery  also  pursued  along  the  Warrenton  road  by 
the  Stone  bridge,  the  enemy  having  opportunely  opened 
a  way  for  them  through  the  heavy  abatis  which  my 
troops  had  made  on  the  west  side  o'f  the  bridge,  several 
days  before.  But  this  pursuit  was  soon  recalled,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  false  report  which  unfortunately  reached 
us  that  the  enemy's  reserves,  known  to  bo  fresh  and  of 
considerable  strength,  were  threatening  the  position  of 
Union  Mills  Ford. 

Colonel  Radford,  with  six  companies  Virginia  cavalry, 
was  also  ordered  by  General  Johnston  to  cross  Bull  run 
and  attack  the  enemy  from  the  direction  of  Lewis'  house  ; 
conducted  by  one  of  my  aids,  Colonel  Chrisholm,  by  the 


p 


Lewis  Ford,  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Suspensi 
Bridge,  lie  charged  a  battery  with  great  gallantry,  took 
Colonel  Corcoran,  of  the  Sixty-ninth  New  York  Voli^H 
teers,  a  prisoner,  and  captured  the  federal  colors  of  thH 
regiment,  as  well  as  a  number  of  the  enemy.  He  losJfl 
however,  a  prominent  officer  of  his  regiment.  CaptaM 
Winston  Radford. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Munford  also  led  some  coinpanid 
of  cavalry  in  hot  pursuit,  and  rendered  material  service 
in  the  capture  of  prisoners  and  of  cannon,  horses,  ammu- 
nition, &c,  abandoned  by  the  enemy  in  their  flight. 

Captain  Lay's  company  of  the  Powhatan  troops  and 
Itterback's  Rangers,  Virginia  Volunteers,  attached  to 
my  person,  did  material  service,  under  Captain  Lay,  in 
rallying  troops  broken  for  the  time  by  the  onset  of  the 
enemy's  masses. 

During  the  period  of  the  momeutous  events  fraught 
with  the  weal  of  our  country,  which  were  passing  on  the 
blood  stained  plateau  along  the  Sudlev  and  Warronton 
roads,  other  portions  of  the  line  of  Bull  run  had  not 
been  void  of  action,  of  moment  and  of  influence  upon  the 
general  result. 

While  Colonel  Evans  and  his  sturdy  band  were  holding 
at  bay  the  federal  advance  beyond  the  turnpike,  the 
enemy  made  repeated  demonstrations,  with  artillery 
and  infantry,  upon  the  line  of  Cocke's  brigade,  with  the 
serious  intention  of  forcing  the  position,  as  General 
Schenck  admits  in  his  report.  They  were  driven  back 
with  severe  loss  by  Latham's  (a  section,)  and  Rogers' 
four  six-pounders,  and  were  bo  impressed  with  the  strength 
of  that  line  as  to  be  held  in  check  and  inactive,  even 
after  it  had  been  stripped  of  all  its  troops  but  one  com- 
pany of  the  Nineteenth  Virginia  regiment,  under  Cap- 
tain Duke,  a  meritorious  officer.  And  it  is  worthy  of 
notice  that,  in  this  encounter  of  our  six-pounder  guns, 
handled  by  our  volunteer  artillerists,  they  had  Avorsted 
such  a  notorious  adversary  as  the  Ayres — formerly  Sher- 
man's— battery,  which  quit  the  contest  under  the  illu- 
sion that  it  had  weightier  metal  than  its  own  to  contend 
with. 

The  centre  brigades — Bonham's  and  Longstreet's — of 
the  line  of  Bull  run,  if  not  closely  engaged,  were  never- 
theless exposed  for  much  of  the  day  to  an  annoying,  al- 
most incessant  fire  of  artillery  of  long  range  ;  but  by  a 
steady,  veteran-like  maintenance  of  their  positions  they 
held  virtually  paralyzed,  all  day,  two  strong  brigades  of 
the  enemy,  with  their  batteries  (four)  of  rifle  guns. 


20 

m  before  said,  two  regiments  of  Bonham's  brigade, 

^Rid  and  Eighth  South  Carolina  \' olu ntc«'is.  and  Kem- 
per's battery,  took  a  distinguished  part  in  the  battle. 
The  remainder.  Third  Williams',  Seventh  Bacon's  South 
Carolina  Volunteers:  Eleventh  (  Kirkland's)  North  Caro- 
lina regiment :  six  companies  Eighth  Louisiana  Volun- 
teers :  Shield's  battery,  and  one  section  of  Walton's  hat- 
pR*y,  under  Lieutenant Garnett,  whether  in  holding  their 
post  or  taking  up  the  pursuit,  officers  and  men  discharged 
their  duty  With  credit  and  promise. 

Long-street's  brigade,  pursuant  to  orders,  prescribing 
his  part  of  the  operations  of  the  centre  and  right  wings, 
was  thrown  across  Bull  run  early  in  the  morning,  and 
under  a  severe  fire  of  artillery,  was  skillfully  disposed 
for  the  assault  of  the  enemy's  batteries  in  that  quarter. 
but  were  withdrawn  subsequently,  in  consequence  of  the 
change  of  plan  already  mentioned  and  explained.  The 
troops  of  this  brigade  were:  First,  Major  Skinner: 
Eleventh,  Garland's  ;  Twenty-fourth,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Ilairston's ;  Seventeenth,  Corse's  Virginia  regiments: 
Fifth  North  Carolina.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jones,  and 
Whitehead's  company  of  Virginia  cavalry.  Throughout 
the  day  these  troops  evinced  the  most  soldierly  spirit. 

After  the  rout,  having  been  ordered  by  General  John- 
ston, in  the  direction  of  Centreville  in  pursuit,  these 
brigades  advanced  near  to  that  place,  when  night  and 
darkness  intervening, General Bonham thought  it  proper 
to  direct  his  own  brigade  and  that  of  General  Longstreet 
back  to  Bull  run. 

General  D.  11.  Jones  early  in  the  day  crossed  Bull  run 
with  his  brigade,  pursuant  to  orders  indicating  his  part 
in  the  projected  attack  by  our  right  wing  and  centre  on 
the  enemy  at  Centres  LLle,  took  up  a  position  on  the  Union 
Mills  and  Centreville  road,  more  than  a  mile  in  advance 
of  the  run.  Ordered  back  in  consequence  of  miscarriage 
of  the  orders  to  General  Ewell,  the  retrograde  movement 
was  necessarily  made  under  a  sharp  fire  of  artillery. 

At  noon  this  brigade,  in  obedience  to  new  instructions. 
was  again  thrown  across  Bull  run  to  make  demonstra- 
tions, Unsupported  by  other  troeps,  the  advance  was 
gallantly  made  until  within  musket  range  of  the  enemy's 
force — Col.  Davis'  brigade  in  position  near  Rocky  run 
and  under  the  concentrated  fire  of  their  artillery.  In  this 
affair  the  Fifth,  Jenkins  South  Carolina,  and  Captain 
Fontaine's  company  of  the  Eighteenth  Mississippi  regi- 
ment are  mentioned  by  General  Jones  as  having  shown 
conspicuous  gallantry,  coolness  and  discipline  under  a 


! 


combined  tire  of  infantry  and  artillery.  Not  only  did 
return  fire  of  the  brigade  drive  to  cover  the  enemy's  ^M 
fantry,  but  the  movement  unquestionably  spread  throu^M 
the  enemy's  ranks  a  sense  of  insecurity  and  danger  fro™ 
an  attack  by  that  route  on  their  rearat  Oentreville.  whiuji 
served  to  augment  the  extraordinary  panic  which  aS 
know  disbanded  the  entire  federal  army  for  the  time. 

This  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  Colonel  Davis,  tin 
immediate  adversary's  commander,  in  his  official  report, 
was  induced  to  magnify  one  small  company  of  our  caval- 
ry which  accompanies  the  brigade  into  a  force  of  2,000 
men  ;  and  Colonel  Miles,  the  commander  of  the  federal 
reserves  at  Centreville,  says  the  movement  "caused  pain" 
ful  apprehensions  for  the  left  wing"  of  their  army. 

General  Ewell,  occupying  for  the  time  the  fight  of  the 
lines  of  Bull  run  at  Union  .Mills  ford,  after  the  miscar- 
riage of  my  orders  for  his  advance  upon  Centre vi lie,  in 
the  afternoon  was  ordered  by  General  Johnston  to  bring 
up  his  brigade  into  battle,  then  raging  on  the  left  flank. 
Promptly  executed  as  this  movement  was,  the  brigade, 
after  a  severe  march,  reached  the  field  too  late  to  share 
the  glories,  as  they  had  the  labors,  of  the  day.  As  the 
important  position  at  the  Union  Mills  had  been  left  with 
but  a  slender  guard.  General  Ewell  was  at  once  ordered 
to  retrace  his  steps  and  resume  his  position  to  prevent 
the  possibility  of  its  seizure  by  any  force  of  the  enemy 
in  that  quarter. 

Brigadier  General  Holmes,  left  with  his  brigade  as  a 
support  to  the  same  position  in  the  original  plan  of  bat- 
tle had  also  been  called  to  the  left,  wither  he  marched 
with  the  utmost  speed,  but  not  in  time  to  join  actively  in 
the  battle. 

Walker's  rifle  guns  of  the  brigade,  however,  came  up 
in  time  to  be  fired  with  precision  and  decided  execution 
at  the  retreating  enemy,  and  Scott's  cavalry  joined  in 
the  pursuit,  assisted  in  the  capture  of  prisoners  and  war 
munitions. 

This  victory,  the  details  of  which  I  have  thus  sought  to 
chronicle  as  rally  as  were  fitting  an  official  report,  it  re- 
mains to  record,  was  dearly  won  by  the  death  of  many 
officers  and  men  of  inestimable  value  belonging  to  all 
grades  of  our  society. 

In  the  death  of  General  Bernard  E.  Bee,  the  confederacy 
has  sustained  an  irreparable  loss,  for  with  great  personal 
bravery  and  coolness  he  possessed  the  qualities  of  an 
accomplished  soldier  and  an  able,  reliable  commander. 

Colonels  Bartow  and  Fisher,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 


:3phiwm.  of  Hampton's  Legion,  in  the  fearless  command 
n»ln'ir  moii.  gave  earnest  of  great  usefulness  to  the  Ber* 
^ce  had  they  been  spared  to  complete  a  career  bo  bril- 
liantly 1  M\irun".  Besides  the  ti<'l<l  officers  already  mention- 
Ed  as  bavin,-:  been  wounded,  while  in  the  gallant  discharge 
^Btheir  duties,  many  others  also  received  severe  wounds 
Hcer  equally  honorable  and  distinguished  conduct,  wht- 
Ker  in  leading  their  men  forward  or  in  rallying  them 
when  overpowered  or  temporily  shattered  by  the  largely 
superior  force  to  which  we  were  generally  opposed. 

The  subordinate  grades  were  likewise  abundantly  con- 
spicuous for  zeal  and  capacity  for  the  leadership  of  men 
in  arms.  To  mention  all  who.  fighting  well,  paid  the 
lavish  forfeit  of  their  lives,  or  at  least  crippled,  mutilated 
bodies  on  the  field  of  Manassas,  cannot  well  be  done 
within  the  compass  of  this  paper,  but  a  grateful  country 
aud  mourning  friends  Avill  not  suffer  their  names  and 
services  to  be  forgotten  and  pass  away  unhonored. 

Xor  are  those  officers  and  men  who  were  so  fortunate 
as  to  escape  the  thick-flying,  deadly  missiles  of  the  ene- 
my less  worthy  of  praise  for  their  endurance,  firmness 
and  valor  than  their  brothers  in  arms,  whose  lives  were 
closed,  or  bodies  maimed,  on  that  memorable  day.  To 
mention  all  who  exhibited  ability  and  brilliant  courage 
were  impossible  in  this  report:  nor  do  the  reports  of 
brigade  and  other  subordinate  commanders  supply  full 
lists  of  all  actually  deserving  of  distinction.  I  can  only 
mention  those  whose  conduct  came  immediately  under 
my  notice,  of  the  consequence  of  whose  actions  happened 
to  be  signally  important. 

It  is  tit  that  I  should  in  this  way  commend  to  notice 
the  dauntless  conduct  and  imperturbable  coolness  of  Colo- 
nel Evans,  and  well  indeed  was  he  supported  by  Colonel 
Sloan  and  the  officers  of  the  Fourth  South  Carolina  regi- 
ment, as  also  Major  Wheat,  than  whom  no  one  displayed 
more  brilliant  courage  until  carried  from  the  field,  Bhot 
through  the  lungs,  though  happily  not  mortally  stricken. 
But  in  the  desperate  unequal  contest,  to  which  those 
brave  gentlemen  were  for  a  time  necessarily  exposed, 
the  behavior  of  officers  and  men  generally  was  worthy 
of  the  highest  admiration,  and  assuredly  hereafter  all 
those  present  may  proudly  say,  "We  were  of  that  band 
who  fought  the  first  hour  of  the  battle  of  Manassas." 
Equal  honors  and  credit  must  also  be  awarded  in  the 
pages  of  history  to  the  gallant  officers  and  men  wTho, 
under  Bee  and  Bartow,  subsequently   marching  to  their 


23 

side,   saved  them  from   destruction,   and  relieved  thlH 
from  the  brunt  of  the  enemy's  attack. 

The  conduct  of  General  Jackson  also  requires  month 
as  eminently  that  of  an  aide,  fearless  soldier,  and  sag* 
cions  commander,  one  lit  to  load  his  brigade;  his  of 
cient,  prompt,  timely   arrival   before  the  plateau  of  tl 
Henry  house,  and  his  judicious  disposition  of  his  troops 
contributed  much  to  the   success   of  the  day.      Althougl 
painfully  wounded  in  tho  hand,  he  remained  on  the  fiek 
to  the  end  of  the  battle,  rendering  invaluable  assistance. 

Colonel  William  Smith  was  as  efficient  as  self-pos 
and  brave;  the  influence  (^\'  bis  example  ami  his  words 
of  encouragement  was  not   confined   to   his   immediate 
command,  the  good  conduct  of  which  is  especially  ao- 
ticeable  inasmuch  as  it  bad  been  embodied  but  a  day  or 

tWO  before  the  battle. 

Colonels  Harper,  Hunton  and  Hampton,  commanding 
regiments  of  the  reserve,  attracted  my  notice  by  their 
soldierly  ability,  as  with  their  gallant  commands  they 
restored  the  fortunes  of  the  day,  at  a  time  when  the  ene- 
my, by  a  last  desperate  onset,  with  heavy  odds,  had 
driven  our  forces  from  the  fiercely  contested  ground 
around  the  Henry  and  Robinson  houses.  Veterans  could 
not  have  behaved  better  than  those  well  led  regiments. 

High  praise  must  also  be  given  to  Colonels  Cocke, 
Early  and  Elzey,  brigade  commanders;  also  to  Colonel 
Kershaw,  commanding  for  the  time  the  Second  and 
Eighth  South  Carolina  regiments.  Under  the  instruc- 
tions of  Genera]  Johnston,  these  officers  reached  the  field 
at  an  opportune,  critical  moment,  ami  disposed,  handled 
and  fought  their  respective  commands  with  sagacity,  de- 
cision and  successful  results  which  have  been  described 
in  detail. 

Colonel  J.  E.  II.  Stuart,  likewise  deserves  mention  for 
his  enterprise  and  ability  as  a  cavalry  commander. 
Through  his  judicious  recounoissance  of  the  country  on 
our  left  flank,  he  acquired  information,  both  of  topographi- 
cal features  and  the  positions  of  the  enemy,  of  the  utmost 
importance  in  the  subsequent  and  closing  movements  of 
the  day  on  that  flank,  and  his  services  in  the  pursuit  were 
highly  effective. 

Captain  E.  P.  Alexander,  C.  S.  Engineers,  gave  me 
seasonable  and  material  assistance  early  in  the  day  with 
his  system  of  signals.  Almost  the  first  shot  fired  by  the 
enemy  passed  through  the  tent  of  his  party  at  the  Stone 
Bridge,  where  th'-v  subsequently  firmly  maintained  their 
position  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty — the  transmission 


■P"  ^  24 

i    the   enemy's   movements — for    several 
■purs  under  tiro.    Later,  Captain  Alexander  acted  as  m\ 
lid-de-camp  in  the  transmission   of  orders  and  in  obser- 
vation of  the  enemy. 

,  Iwasmost  efficiently  Berved  throughout  the  day  by 
m\  volunteer  aids,  Colonels  Preston,  Manning,  Chesnut, 
Miles,  Rice,  Heyward,  and  Chrisholm,  to  whom  1  tender 
my  thanks  for  their  unflagging,  intelligenl  and  fearless 
discharge  of  the  laborious,  responsible  duties  entrusted 
to  them.  To  Lieutenants.  W.  Ferguson,  A.  D.  C,  and  Col. 
Heyward,  who  were  habitually  at  my  side  from  twelve 
noon  until  the  close  of  the  battle,  my  special  acknow- 
ledgements are  due.  The  horse  of  the  former  was  killed 
under  him  by  the  same  shell  that  wounded  that  of  the 
latter.  Both  were  eminently  useful  to  me,  and  were 
distinguished  for  coolness  and  courage,  until  the  enemy 
gave  way  and  fled  in  wild  disorder,  in  every  direction,  a 
scene  the  President  ^of  the  Confederacy  had  the  high 
satisfaction  of  witnessing,  as  he  arrived  upon  the  field 
at  that  exultant  moment. 

I  also  received,  from  the  time  I  reached  the  front,  such 
signal  service  from  II.  E.  Peyton,  at  the  time  a  private 
in  the  Loudoun  cavalry,  that  1  have  called  him  to  my 
personal  staff.  Similar  services  was  also  rendered  me 
repeatedly  during  the  battle,  by  T.J.  Randolph,  a  volun- 
teer acting  aid-de-camp  to  Colonel  Cocke. 

Captain  Clifton  If.  Smith,  of  the  general  staff,  was  also 
present  on  the  field,  and  rendered  efficient  service  in  the 
transmission  of  orders. 

It  must  be  permitted  me  here  to  record  my  profound 
sense  of  my  obligations  to  General  Johnston,  for  his  gene- 
rous permission  to  carry  out  my  plans,  with  such  molli- 
fications as  circumstances  had  required.  From  his  ser- 
vices on  the  field — as  wo  entered  it  together — already 
mentioned,  and  his  subsequent  watchful  management  oi 
the  reinforcements  as  they  reached  the  vicinity  of  the 
field,  our  countrymen  may  draw  the  most  auspicious 
auguries. 

To  Colonel  Thomas  Jordan,  my  efficient  and  zealous 
Assistant  Adjutant  General,  much  credit  is  due  to  his 
able  assistance  in  the  organization  of  the  forces  undermy 
command,  and  for  the  intelligence  and  promptness  with 
which  he  Iras  discharged  all  the  laborious  ami  important 
duties  of  his  office. 

Valuable  assistance  was  given  to  me  by  Major  Cabell, 
chief  officer  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department,  in  the 
sphere  of   his  duties — duties  environed  by  far  more  than 


f 


the  ordinary  difficulties  and  embarrassments  attending 
the  operations  of  a  lon^  organized  regular  estaldislmienwj 

Colonel  B.  B.  Lee,  Chief  of  Subsistence  DepartmenJg 
had  but  just  entered  upon  his  duties,  but  his  experience 
and  long  and  varied  services  in  his  department,  made  him 
as  efficient  as  possible. 

Captain  W.  II.  Fowle,  whom  Colonel  Lee  had  relieve^B 
had   previously  exerted   himself  to   the  utmost  to  earrjH 
out  orders  from  these  headquarters,  to  render  his  depart^ 
ment  equal  to  the  demands  of  the   service  ;  that  it  was 
not  entirely  so,  it  is  due  to  justice  to  say.  A\as  certainly 
not  his  fault. 

Deprived  by  the  sudden  severe  illness  of  the  Medical 
Director,  Surgeon  Thomas  II.  Williams,  his  duties  were 
discharged  by  Surgeon  II.  L.  Brodie,  to  my  entire  satis- 
faction :  and  it  is  proper  to  say  that  the  entire  medical 
corps  of  the  army,  at  present  embracing  gentlemen  of 
distinction  in  the  profession,  who  had  quit  lucrative 
private  practice,  by  their  services  in  the  field  and  subse- 
quently, did  high  honor  to  their  profession. 

The  vital  duties  of  the  Ordnance  Department  were 
effectively  discharged  under  the  administration  of  my 
Chief  Artillery  and  Ordnance,  Colonel  S.  Jones. 

At  one  time,  when  reports  of  evil  omen  and  disaster 
reached  Camp  Pickens,  with  such  circumstantiality  as  to 
give  reasonable  grounds  of  anxiety,  its  commander, 
Colonel  Terrett,  the  commander  of  the  entrenched  bat- 
teries, Captain  Sterrett,  of  the  Confederate  States  Navy, 
and  their  officers,  made  the  most  efficient  possible  prepa- 
rations for  the  desperate  defence  of  that  position  in  ex- 
tremity ;  and,  in  this  connection,  I  regret  my  inability  to 
mention  the  names  of  those  patriotic  gentlemen  of  Vir- 
ginia, by  the  gratuitous  labor  of  whose  slaves  the  en- 
trenched camp  at  Manassas  had  been  mainly  constructed, 
relieving  the  troops  from  that  laborious  service  and  giving 
opportunity  for  their  military  instruction. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Thomas  II.  Williamson,  the  engineer 
of  these  works,  assisted  by  Captain  D.  B.  Harris,  dis 
charged  his  duties  with  untiring  energy  and  devotion,  as 
well  as  satisfactory  skill. 

Captain  W.  II.  Stevens,  Engineer  Confederate  Army, 
served  with  the  advanced  forces  at  Fairfax  Court  House 
for  some  time  before  the  battle;  he  laid  out  the  works 
there  in  admirable  accordance  with  the  purposes  for 
which  they  were  designed,  and  yet  so  as  to  admit  of  ulti- 
mate extention  and  adaptation  to  more  serious  uses  as 
means  and  part  of  a  system  of  real  defence  when  deter- 


l 


I 


I 


Hincl  iijion.     lie  has  shown  himself  to  be  an  officer  of 

M^rgy  and  ability. 

■Major  Thomas  G.  Rhett,  after  having  discharged  for 
several  months  the  laborious  duties  el'  Adjutant  General 
to  the  commanding  officer  of  Camp  Pickens,  was  detached 
to  join  tin1  army  of  the  Shenandoah,  just  on  the  eve  of 
tin-  advance  of  the  enemy  ;  but,  volunteering  his  services, 
Iras  ordered  to  assist  <>n  the  staff  of  Genera]  Bonham, 
joining  that  officer  at  Centreville  on  the  night  of  the  17th, 
before  the  battle  of  Bull  run,  where  he  rendered  valuable 
services,  until  the  arrival  of  General  Johnston,  on  the 
20th  of  July,  when  he  was  railed  ro  the  place  of  Chief 
of  Staff  of  that  officer. 

It  is  also  proper  to  acknowledge  the  signal  services 
rendered  by  Colonel  B.F.Terry  anaT.  Lubbock,  of  Texas, 
who  had  attached  themselves  to  the  staff  of  General 
Longstreet.  These  gcntlemeu  made  daring  and  valuable 
reconnoissances  of  the  enemy's  positions,  assisted  by 
Captains  Goree  and  Chichester.  They  also  carried  orders 
to  the  field,  and  on  the  following  day,  accompanying- 
Captain  Whitehead's  troops  to  take  possession  of  Fairfax 
Court  House,  Colonel  Terry,  with  his  unerring  rifle, 
severed  the  halliard,  and  thus  lowered  the  federal  flag 
found  still  floating  from  the  cupola  of  the  Court  House 
there.  He  also  secured  a  large  federal  garrison  flag, 
designed,  it  is  said,  to  be  unfurled  over  our  entrenchments 
at  Manassas. 

In  connection  with  the  unfortunate  casualties  of  the 
day — that  is,  the  miscarriage  of  the  orders  sent  by  cou- 
rier to  General  Holmes  and  Ewell  to  attack  the  enemy 
in  flank  and  reverse  at  Centreville,  through  which  the 
triumph  of  our  arms  was  prevented  from  being  ^  still 
more  decisive — I  regard  it  in  place  to  say,  a  divisional 
organization,  with  officers  in  command  of  divisions,  with 
appropriate  rank  as  in  European  services,  would  greatly 
reduce  the  risk  of  such  mishaps,  and  would  advantage- 
ously simplify  the  communications  of  a  general  in  com- 
mand of  a  field  with  his  troops. 

While  glorious  for  our  people  and  of  crushing  effect 
upon  the  morale  of  our  hitherto  confident  and  overween- 
ing adversary,  as  were  the  events  of  the  battle  of  Man- 
assas, the  field  was  only  won  by  stout  fighting,  and,  as 
before  stated,  with  much  loss,  as  is  precisely  exhibited 
in  the  papers  herewith,  marked  F,  (i,  and  H,  and  being 
lists  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  The  killed  outright 
numbered  200,  the  wounded  1,483—making  an  aggre- 
gate of  1,852. 


The  actual  loss  of  the  enemy  will  never  lie  known:  ifl 
may  now  only  be  conjectured.  Their  abandoned  dead,  as 
they  were  buried  by  cur  people  where  they  fell,  un«l 
fortunately  were  not  enumerated :  but  many  parts  ofj 
the  field  were  thick  with  their  corpses,  as  but  few 
battle  fields  have  ever  been.  The  official  reports  of  the! 
enemy  are  studiously  silent  on  this  point,  but  stilli 
afford  us  data  for  an  approximate  estimate.  Left  almost 
in  the  dark  in  respect  to  the  losses  of  Hunter's  and  Heinfc- 
zelmaU's  divisions — first,  longest  and  most  hotly  en- 
gaged— we  are  informed  that  Sherman's  brigade — Tyler's 
division — suffered  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  609 — 
that  is,  about  eighteen  per  cent  of  the  brigade.  A  regiment 
of  Franklin's  brigade — Gorman's — lost  twenty-one  per 
cent.  Griffin's  (battery)  loss  was  thirty  per  rent,  and 
that  of  Keye's  brigade,  which  was  so  handled  by  its  com- 
mander as  to  be  exposed  to  only  occasional  volleys  from 
our  troops,  was  at  least  ten  percent.  To  these  facts  and 
the  repeated  references  in  the  reports  of  the  more  reti- 
cent commanders,  to  the  "murderous" fire  to  which  they 
were  habitually  exposed — the  '"pistol  range''  volleys 
and  galling  musketry,  of  which  they  speak,  as  scourging 
their  ranks,  and  we  are  warranted  in  placing  the  entire 
loss  of  the  federalists  at  over  forty-five  hundred  in.  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners.  To  this  may  be  legitimately 
added,  as  a  casualty  of  the  battle,  the  thousands  of  fugi- 
tives from  the  field,  who  have  never  rejoined  their  regi- 
ments, and  who  are  as  much  lost  to  the  enemy's  service 
as  if  slain  or  disabled  by  wounds.  These  may  not  be  in- 
cluded under  the  head  of  ''missing,"  because  in  every 
instance  of  such  report  we  took  as  many  prisoners  of  those 
brigades  or  regiments  as  are  reported  '■missing.'' 

A  list  appended  exhibits  some  1,460  of  their  wounded 
and  others  who  fell  into  our  hands  and  were  sent  to  Rich- 
mond. Some  were  sent  to  other  points,  80  that  the  num- 
ber of  prisoners,  including  wounded  who  did  not  die,  may 
be  set  down  at  not  less  than  1.G00.  Besides  these,  a  con- 
siderable number  who  could  not  be  removed  from  the 
field  died  at  several  farm  houses  and  field  hospitals  within 
ten  days  following  the  battle. 

To  serve  the  future  historian  of  this  war,  I  will  note 
the  fact,  that  among  the  captured  federalists  are  officers 
and  men  of  forty-seven  regiments  of  volunteers,  besides 
from  some  nine  different  regiments  of  regular  troops, 
detachments  of  which  were  engaged.  From  their  official 
reports,  we  learn  of  a  regiment  of  volunteers  engaged. 
six  regiments  of  Miles'   division,  and  the   five  regiments 


Bf  Runyon's  brigade,  from  which  we  have  neither  Bound 
or  wounded  prisoners.  Making  all  allowances  for  mis- 
takes, we  are  warranted  in  saying  that  the  federal  army 

consisted  of  at  least  fifty-live  regiments  of  volunteers, 
eight  companies  of  regular  infantry,  four  of  marines, 
nine  of  regular  cavalry,  and  twelve  batteries,  one  hun- 
dred and  nineteen  guns.  These  regiments,  atone  time, 
as  will  appear  from  a  published  list  appended,  marked 
"  K,"  numbered  in  the  aggregate  54,140,  and  average 
904  each;  from  an  order  of  the  enemy's  commander, 
however,  dated  July  13,  we  learn  that  one  hundred  men 
from  each  regiment  were  ordered  to  remain  in  charge  of 
respective  camps — some  allowance  must  further  be  made 
for  the  sick  and  details,  which  would  reduce  the  average 
to  eight  hundred — adding  the  regular  cavalry,  infantry 
and  artillery  present,  an  estimate  of  their  force  may  be 
made. 

A  paper  appended,  marked  "L,"  exhibits,  in  part,  the 
ordnance  and  supplies  captured,  including  some  twenty- 
eight  field  pieces  of  the  best  character  of  arm,  with  over 
one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  for  each  gun,  thirty 
seven  caissons,  six  forges,  four  battery  wagons,  sixty- 
four  artillery  horses,  completely  equipped,  five  hundred 
thousand  of  small  arm  ammunition,  four  thousand  five 
hundred  sets  rounds  of  accoutrements,  over  five  hundred 
muskets,  some  nine  regimental  and  garrison  flags,  with 
a  large  number  of  pistols,  knapsacks,  swords,  canteens, 
blankets,  a  large  store  of  axes  and  entrenching  tools, 
wagons,  ambulances,  horses,  camp  and  garrison  equi- 
page, hospital  stores,  and  some  subsistence. 

Added  to  these  results  may  rightly  be  noticed  here 
that  by  this  battle  an  invading  army  superbly  equipped, 
within  twenty  miles  of  their  base  of  operations,  has  been 
converted  into  one  virtually  besieged,  and  exclusively 
occupied  for  months  in  the  construction  of  a  stupendous 
series  of  fortifications  for  the  protection  of  its  own  capi- 
tal. 

I  beg  to  call  attention  to  the  reports  of  the  several  sub- 
ordinate commanders  for  reference  to  the  signal  parts 
played  by  individuals  of  their  respective  commands. — 
Contradictory  statements,  found  in  these  reports,  should 
not  excite  surprise,  when  we  remember  how  difficult,  if 
not  impossible,  it  is  to  reconcile  the  narrations  of  by- 
standers, or  participants  in  even  the  most  inconsiderable 
affair,  much  less  the  shifting,  thrilling  scenes  of  a  battle 
field. 

Accompanying  are  maps  showing  the  positions  of  the 


>><> 


armies  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  July,  and  of  threM 
several  stages  of  the  battle  ;  also  of  the  line  of  Bull  run> 
north  of  Blackburn's  Ford.  These  maps,  from  actuafe 
surveys  made  by  Captain  D.  B.  Harrison,  assisted  bj 
Mr.  John  Grant,  were  drawn  by  the  latter  -with  a  rare 
delicacy  worthy  of  high  commendation. 

In  conclusion,  it  is  proper,  and  doubtless  expected, 
that  through  this  report  my  countrymen  should  be  made 
acquainted  with  some  of  the  sufficient  causes  that  pre- 
vented the  advance  of  our  forces,  and  prolonged  vigorous 
pursuit  of  the  enemy  to  and  beyond  the  Potomac.  The 
War  Department  has  been  fully  advised  long  since  of  all 
of  these  causes,  some  of  which  only  are  proper  to  be 
here  communicated.  An  army  which  had  fought  like 
ours  on  that  day  against  uncommon  odds,  under  a  July 
sun,  most  of  the  time  without  water  and  without  food, 
except  a  hastily  snatched  meal  at  dawn,  was  not  in  con- 
dition for  the  toil  of  an  eager,  effective  pursuit  of  an 
enemy  immediately  after  the  battle. 

On  the  following  day  an  unusual  heavy  and  uninter- 
mitting  fall  of  rain  intervened  to  obstruct  our  advance 
with  reasonable  prospect  of  fruitful  results.  Added  to 
this,  the  want  of  a  cavalry  force  of  sufficient  numbers, 
made  an  efficient  pursuit  a  military  impossibility. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD, 

General  Commanding. 

To  General  S.  Cooper,  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General, 
Richmond,  Va. 


R.  H.  CHILTON,  Adjutant. 


f 


